We help regenerate healthy passages into mature adulthood for today’s youth.

Vancouver, BC, Canada

Motivated by Wisdom

Vancouver, BC, Canada

What is a RITE OF PASSAGE?

Rites of passage ceremonially mark significant life transitions. These ritualized events usher the initiate’s journey into the next life stage and tend to their relationship with Self, community, culture, and more.
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Calistoga, CA, USA

LEAPNOW!

Calistoga, CA, USA

Why does it MATTER?

Rites of Passage matter because of what they can do: in the lives of young people, in our own lives, and in our communities. They have the power to help young people thrive in the 21st century.
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Los Angeles, CA, USA

Street Poets

Los Angeles, CA, USA

WHERE DO I FIT?

Youth Passageways needs your help! You can increase the availability of rites of passage for young people around the world by learning more, making a gift, volunteering, and/or advocating.
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When we talk about rites of passage we mean a time when we recognize and see young people for the beauty they bring into the world. The rite is to get them to wake up to their own dream, their own story.

Luis J. Rodriguez Tia Chucha's Centro Cultural & Bookstore

Rites of passage are a cultural antihistamine that prevents children and young people from having an allergic reaction to a socially toxic environment.

Paul Hill, Jr. The National Rites of Passage Institute, Cleveland, OH

Rites of passage reach deeply into the hearts of human beings and help people and communities thrive, rather than just survive.

Edith Kusnic, Community Elder, Seattle, WA

Although it takes a whole village to raise a child, it takes the struggles of youth to raise the village.

Michael Meade Mosaic Voices Multicultural Foundation, Seattle, WA

My belief is that every teen, deep in their bones, knows they deserve healthy, not destructive, rites of passage and mature adult mentorship.

Frederick Marx Warrior Films, Oakland, CA

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What’s Happening?

YPW Collaborations – Updates from the Field

Youth Passageways,

Over this past couple of years, Youth Passageways has found itself serendipitously situated to work together with partners and allies. Here is a current list of our emerging and ongoing collaborations as well as some of the ways those have begun taking shape alongside some of the truly wonderful folks we’re honored to work with […]

Update from the Cross-Cultural Protocols Chair, Sobey Wing

Youth Passageways,

The Cross-Cultural Protocols seat being kept within the YPW Education and Consulting Collective will be continuing the trajectory from August 2020’s People of the Global Majority Caucus with a podcast series hosted by Sobey Wing launching soon.  Greetings YPW Network and a call to the People of the Global Majority aka Black, Indigenous, People of […]